So this is an entry for the Harry/Ginny Right After the War contest.I hope you like this story. :)


As Harry descended the stairs towards the Great Hall after having a talk with Dumbledore's portrait, he took his Invisibility Cloak off and braced himself for another great fit of handshakes and hugs. When they entered the hall, Ron and Hermione both went off to eat the food, and Harry went to sit on a chair kept in a lone corner. As he was advancing towards the chair, he heard a faint but familiar voice call him. 'Harry,'

He felt his stomach do a back-flip, and he turned around to see Ginny standing a few feet away from him. Her face was covered with dirt and blood and dried tears but she looked much more beautiful than she ever had the whole time Harry had known her. The way Harry felt when he saw her, looking into her eyes, was completely indescribable for him. He couldn't say anything, all he could manage to do was give her a weak smile.

But she was a far more reactant than him; she ran forwards and flung her arms around him, and kissed him as if this was the last time she'd ever do that. Harry wrapped her arms around her and kissed her back, and it felt as if the whole world had come back to place, as if there wasn't a war at all, as if he was still a sixth year in the Gryffindor Common Room, kissing Ginny Weasley, as if all that he could ever want in this world was right here, in his arms.

And Ginny felt the same. She could've stayed like this with Harry for the rest of her life, safe in his arms, keeping him safe, never letting him go.

'I thought I lost you,' Ginny said weakly as their lips broke apart. He realized she was crying. 'You scared me, Harry... you scared me so much...'

'I'm sorry,' said Harry, running a hand over her cheek to wipe off a tear. 'I know... and I'm sorry, but you've sometimes got to do it to defeat the bad guy.'

Ginny's lips broke into a dim smile, which pretty much hid her tears, but there still was some emptiness in her eyes, like a vacancy. And then something hit Harry.

'I'm sorry about Fred.' he said quietly.

Ginny's smile faded. It took a couple of seconds before she could speak, but the words which finally came out of her nearly closed lips were comforting, 'I'm sure it'll get better... someday.'

Before Harry could say anything more, she slid her hand under his, held it tight and led him, without any words, to the table where his family sat dining, and even though Harry could feel a hundred eyes upon them, it didn't matter to him. All that did matter was Ginny.


Thanks very very much for reading.